Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Oakland teachers have worked over two years without a contract. Inorder to push negotiations along, a three-person panel was convened toresolve financial and other disputes between the Oakland UnifiedSchool District and the Oakland Education Association. The panelreviewed the budget and related issues and made recommendations thatincluded a 2% pay increase for teachers. The District Board andSuperintendent, however, chose to completely ignore the 28-page reportand scheduled an emergency hearing to vote on imposing their "last,best, final offer" onto Oakland teachers which includes no pay raise,claiming the district could not afford any increases. Teachers andtheir allies packed the Board meeting on April 21st to object to anyimposition of a labor contract without the Oakland EducatorAssociation's consent. [Full audio below.]

Over 45 teachers and their allies in the community took turns voicingconcerns and expressing dissent about imposition of a contract. One lonespeaker praised the growing number of anti-union charter schools inOakland. After everyone who had filled out a speaker card had their timeat the microphone, members of the Oakland Unified School District Boardtook turns justifying the vote they would soon take to impose a contract,several of whom strangely spoke of future unity and collaboration withOakland's teachers, which their bad faith vote would do absolutely nothingto help foster. In what appeared to be a pre-determined show of strengthby the Board, the vote was unanimous to impose a contract that deniesraises, increases class sizes, and lays off teachers. Those who had filledthe room to defend Oakland teachers then stormed out of the building andimmediately began to organize for the city-wide strike coming thisThursday.

Oakland teachers are asking all citizens of Oakland to stand with them insolidarity on April 29th -- and beyond as the struggle for a fair laborcontract will undoubtedly continue.